Board approves calendar, personnel and policy items; renames building and records budget proposal
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Summary
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board approved the 2025–26 calendar, personnel actions, policy updates, a building rename and a proposed budget; several routine items passed unanimously and one rename vote recorded an abstention.
At its February meeting, the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board approved a series of routine and substantive agenda items, including the 2025–26 school calendar, personnel assignments and contract extensions, a revised personnel policy, a cybersecurity policy, a building rename, and a proposed sample budget for 2026–27. Most votes were unanimous; the board’s renaming of a building recorded one abstention.
Key approvals and outcomes
- Calendar: The board approved the 2025–26 calendar as presented after staff described collaborative development with school leaders and compliance with state instructional-hour requirements. The superintendent explained staff will return on August 4 for teacher workdays and the student year will end on May 22. Motion passed unanimously.
- Consent agenda: Minutes, assistant superintendent reports and the financial report were approved together and passed unanimously.
- Titan Health and Early Childhood Center (renaming): The board approved renaming the old Merle Taylor building to the Titan Health and Early Childhood Center to reflect planned services in the facility. The motion passed with one abstention.
- Additional interim pay: The board approved interim administrative pay adjustments to compensate staff covering an administrator on extended leave at Homer Atkins Pre-K Center; the motion passed unanimously.
- Personnel policy: The board approved a revised personnel policy intended to align with applicable employment statutes related to renewal and termination; motion passed unanimously.
- Cybersecurity policy: The board approved a cybersecurity policy provided electronically (not in the printed packet) that was drafted using DESE materials; motion passed unanimously.
- Sample budget for 2026–27: The board approved the proposed sample budget of expenditures to be published and placed on the May ballot; the board noted the district tax levy and millage rate remain unchanged. Motion passed unanimously.
- Student disciplinary actions: The board approved three uncontested student disciplinary recommendations as presented; motion passed unanimously.
- Personnel approvals after executive session: The board approved contract extensions for Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janice Walker and an assistant superintendent contract extension for Mr. Bobby Lester, and a background-check waiver for classified personnel; the board approved all items together unanimously.
Why it matters: These votes set the district calendar, confirm interim administrative arrangements and adopt policies that govern personnel and cybersecurity, and place the proposed budget on the ballot for voter consideration.
The board conducted an executive session to discuss personnel before returning to approve the listed personnel actions.
